BIS/BAS scales and their relationship to risky health behaviours

Reward sensitivity is associated with brain activity during erotic stimulus processing

“…These results are in line with previous research showing an association between reward sensitivity and stronger sexual arousability and excitability [12][13][14][15][16][17]. On the basis of these results, we may speculate that sexual arousal is at least partly mediated by BAS structures, and individual differences in reward sensitivity may modulate sexual arousal.…”

“…Behavioral data have shown that stronger reward sensitivity predisposes a person to be engaged in more sexual experiences, be more curious about sexual topics in the media, and be more sexually excitable [12][13][14][15][16][17]. Sexual behavior is one of the most important goal-directed behaviors essential for the survival of the animal species and is thought to engage brain mechanisms supporting reward processing [18].…”

Sensitivity to reward is associated with snack and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adolescents

“…SR in this study was assessed by the BAS RR and BAS DRV scores, as these two subscales have been previously related to food intake [21,28]. The study by Voigt et al [27] examined the associations of the different BAS subscales to risky health behaviors and found no association between BAS FS and diet. Convergent validity and internal consistency of these BAS scales in adolescents have been confirmed in previous studies [24][25][26].…”

“…Previous research has yielded evidence for the psychometric properties of the BAS scales [22][23][24][25][26]. Previous research has also, however, shown that mainly BAS RR and DRV are associated with food intake and not BAS FS [21,27,28]. The reinforcement sensitivity theory has already been used to explain several unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol abuse and smoking, and recently this theory is also increasingly being used to explain eating behaviors.…”

Personality and Addiction: A Critical Review of Assessment Approaches

“…Alternatively, the BAS responds to environmental cues for reward and nonpunishment by initiating approach and active avoidance. BAS appears to be a relatively consistent positive correlate of alcohol and drug use but this relation appears to be driven primarily by the BAS subscale of Fun Seeking, whereas BIS tends to be either nonsignificantly or negatively related to substance use (Feil and Hasking, 2008;Johnson, Turner, and Iwata, 2003;Loxton and Hawe, 2001;Voight et al, 2009). For instance, van Leeuwen and colleagues (2011) found that BAS scores in early adolescence predicted greater use of tobacco and marijuana in mid-adolescence, whereas BIS scores were negatively related to repeated marijuana use.…”